The title suggests a depiction of Greek history and mythology on the artistic urns.
Paraphrase
The poem describes an address to a Grecian Urn. Looking at the urn, the speaker realizes that those who are depicted are now trapped within history, preserving the past in beautiful truth.
Connotation
“flowery tale”(4)- the urn tells history “leaf-fringed legend”(5)- leaf like design on the urn “deities or mortals”(6)- the subjects of mythology
“Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on;”(11-12)- the urn is beautiful in its quiet storytelling of the past
“sensual ear, but, more endear'd”(13)- the story is not heard by those just passively listening,
“Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare;”(16)- the story of the lovers is set in history
“Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss”(17)- never expresses their love in a kiss as they were trapped before their love could begin
“For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!(20)- preserved, they will always feel love for each other
“Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu;”(22)- seasons and time do not pass
“A burning forehead, and a parching tongue”(30)- as similar to being deprived of water, passion leaves the heart sorrowful and longing
“Who are these coming to the sacrifice?”(31)- there is mystery involved in the freezing of history, always wondering what will occur
“Will silent be; and not a soul, to tell”(39)- the town is trapped within history, never able to tell of the future. It only depicts the present which has become the past
“Of marble men and maidens overwrought”
(42)- images are strained and strengthened by time as they are locked in history
“dost tease us out of thought”(44)- requires the application of thought to understand the subtly of the story
“Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe”(47)- when all who remember are gone, their history is preserved within the urn
“Beauty is truth, truth beauty”(49)- the beauty of the urn depicts the truth of history, and that knowledge in and of itself is beautiful
Attitude
The attitude of the speaker is that of thoughtfulness and reverence. He values the beauty of the preservation of truth in the urn and seeks to discover its story.
Shifts
14-15: Shifts to the depiction of the lovers from the address of the history held in urns
30-31: Shifts from the specific example of the lovers to the general description of the preservation of history within art.
Theme
Truth is held and time is stalled as a moment in history is preserved within art.
Title
The ode is the praise of the urn in its preservation of truth in its artistic depiction of a moment in history.
Poem
TPCASTT- "Ode on a Grecian Urn"- John Keats
“leaf-fringed legend”(5)- leaf like design on the urn
“deities or mortals”(6)- the subjects of mythology
“Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on;”(11-12)- the urn is beautiful in its quiet storytelling of the past
“sensual ear, but, more endear'd”(13)- the story is not heard by those just passively listening,
“Thy song, nor ever can those trees be bare;”(16)- the story of the lovers is set in history
“Bold Lover, never, never canst thou kiss”(17)- never expresses their love in a kiss as they were trapped before their love could begin
“For ever wilt thou love, and she be fair!(20)- preserved, they will always feel love for each other
“Your leaves, nor ever bid the Spring adieu;”(22)- seasons and time do not pass
“A burning forehead, and a parching tongue”(30)- as similar to being deprived of water, passion leaves the heart sorrowful and longing
“Who are these coming to the sacrifice?”(31)- there is mystery involved in the freezing of history, always wondering what will occur
“Will silent be; and not a soul, to tell”(39)- the town is trapped within history, never able to tell of the future. It only depicts the present which has become the past
“Of marble men and maidens overwrought”
(42)- images are strained and strengthened by time as they are locked in history
“dost tease us out of thought”(44)- requires the application of thought to understand the subtly of the story
“Thou shalt remain, in midst of other woe”(47)- when all who remember are gone, their history is preserved within the urn
“Beauty is truth, truth beauty”(49)- the beauty of the urn depicts the truth of history, and that knowledge in and of itself is beautiful
30-31: Shifts from the specific example of the lovers to the general description of the preservation of history within art.